Today (sorry, it's already yesterday) is Gruen Donnerstag (green Thursday). Other than the fact that Germans seem to eat green things on this day (for example, green sauce and eggs, a Frankfurt specialty), nobody could tell me WHY it has this name. So I went searching on Google and found this, a theological site auf Deutsch.
It says that first of all today is a day of Remembrance in the Church because it's the day of the Last Supper, the washing of the feet, and Jesus's night of fearful watching. However, where the Green part comes from is a bit of a controversy. It either comes from a bastardization of the old German word "grunen" which means to cry or whine (for Jesus's plight), or it's because of all the new green growth in Springtime . And green signifies hope and new life.
So there you go.
Happy Easter! I have a four day weekend. :)
Posted by Jinglelady at April 9, 2004 12:12 AM | German LifeAhhh Grunen Thrusday! I see!!! How interesting. This is sort of one of those things that eventually becomes in-grained and adopted into the church, and you be damned if you don't do it sort of thing ;) Ya know what I mean? Silly stuff!
Posted by: Brat at April 9, 2004 12:19 AMI have always observed Gruen Donnerstag.
I have lived in the States for over 50 years. When I mentioned Gruen Donnerstag to my co -workers, they laughed. They thought I made it up.
I usually eat spinach and Spiegel Eier( eggs sunny side up).
Your article was nice.
Thank you.